A call signals the trauma team at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Emergency Department (ED): a trauma patient is on the way. The ED’s trauma team springs into action in these crucial moments, triggering the ‘Code Trauma’.
Whether it’s a victim of a near-fatal car crash losing a lot of blood, a stroke patient with a brain bleed, a senior with a fractured hip from a fall, or a child struggling to breathe, the ‘Code Trauma’ is a rapid call out for a dedicated group of emergency doctors, nurses, surgeons, and specialists.
Their mission is to come together when the injured patient arrives and perform their rehearsed roles to provide immediate care without delay.
Like a scene from a medical drama, the air buzzes with the hum of medical equipment and a sense of anticipation. The team works seamlessly to stabilize the patient, assess the severity of injuries, and initiate critical first steps in their care, all while following the protocols of a Level III Trauma Centre. It’s a world most of us hope never to see.
In a typical year, residents across our region make over 71,000 visits to the ED. During those visits, around 400 patients are treated by the trauma team for serious and life-threatening traumatic injuries.
Under the leadership of PRHC’s Trauma Medical Director, Dr. Troy Tebbenham, the team’s work — supported by specialized, donor-funded equipment — has been instrumental in determining the outcomes of these patients, often making the difference between life and death.
VIDEO: Heart of Healthcare – Episode 3, Part 1
In the latest episode of the PRHC Foundation’s “Heart of Healthcare” video series, Foundation President & CEO and series host, Lesley Heighway, sits down with Dr. Tebbenham. He shares what’s happening in emergency medicine at PRHC, what it’s like leading the trauma program into its second year, and the importance of the hospital’s designation as a Level III Trauma Centre.
PRHC was designated a Level III Trauma Centre in 2023, marking a significant milestone in the region’s emergency medical services.
“Survival in traumatic medical situations often hinges on the speed of intervention,” says Dr. Tebbenham. “The Level III designation positions PRHC as a vital link in the provincial network and a lifeline for severely injured patients, who must be stabilized before being transferred to a lead trauma hospital. Peterborough is very fortunate to have that.”
The designation gives PRHC access to the network’s resources. It facilitates collaboration with lead trauma hospitals in Toronto and Kingston and the other Level III Centres in Barrie, Guelph, Newmarket, and Oshawa.
Crucial to the trauma program’s success are the team’s state-of-the-art, donor-funded tools and technology. Recent investments such as a rapid blood transfusion machine, advanced trauma stretchers, and a cutting-edge ultrasound machine support the team in providing fast, safe, expert care to patients often suffering painful injuries.
“Equipment is essential when caring for a patient in their first moments as a critically injured trauma patient,” Dr. Tebbenham says. “Although we had forms of it before, this new equipment is top-of-the-line efficient and very easy to use. It’s allowed the team to focus on caring for the patient rather than struggling with other pieces of equipment.”
In a recent case, a young patient’s life was saved through the quick, coordinated efforts of the trauma team, using the new technology to administer rapid blood transfusions and diagnose internal injuries following a car accident. This immediate treatment stabilized and prepared him for advanced care at a lead trauma hospital, where he received lifesaving surgery.
“If we were disorganized or didn’t have the right kind of equipment, I’m not sure how the outcome would have gone,” says Dr. Tebbenham.
The trauma program’s mandate isn’t only about immediate, lifesaving interventions at PRHC’s ED. It also includes a commitment to community engagement and injury prevention. Beyond the hospital’s walls, the program supports collaborations with emergency medical services (EMS), fire services, police, and schools.
Dr. Tebbenham stresses the importance of education to prevent and limit trauma, citing initiatives like ‘Stop the Bleed’, a national, community-based training program that empowers individuals to respond effectively to bleeding injuries, and a safety campaign on social media to deter the public from risky behaviour.
“We’ve already seen a lot of positive effects, both in the hospital and outside the hospital,” he says.
VIDEO: Heart of Healthcare – Episode 3, Part 2
Dr. Tebbenham outlined the trauma program’s future, highlighting an ongoing focus on streamlined emergency care, continuous quality improvement and increased community partnerships across the region. He explained that the program would not be possible without donor support and expressed his gratitude for the generosity of donors.
“Thank you! What you do is literally saving lives and we’re able to see that because of how the program is running.”
He also explained that having advanced equipment so that doctors, nurses and staff can do their jobs to the best of their abilities and see positive outcomes for their patients also boosts team morale.
This has been especially important since the onset of the pandemic and ensuing health human resources challenges.
“A huge thank you from us on behalf of the patients, but also, a huge thank you just from us for what you’ve been able to do for all the healthcare providers involved in caring for an injured patient,” says Dr. Tebbenham.
Watch the two-part discussion between Dr. Troy Tebbenham and Lesley Heighway above.
Upcoming episodes of “Heart of Healthcare” will be available at prhcfoundation.ca and through the Foundation’s social media and Vimeo channels.
“Heart of Healthcare” is a video series featuring the stories of some of the people and programs helping to shape the future of care at PRHC for the 600,000 people — from the city and county of Peterborough, Northumberland County, east Durham, the Haliburton Highlands, and the City of Kawartha Lakes — who rely on it.
This branded editorial was supplied by the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.
